Chapter 026: Your Ribs Aren't Even as Expensive as Pork Chops

Yi Luowa stared at him silently, signaling him to continue speaking.

"Before the car accident, Xi Meichen went to see him. After the accident, Bai Bowen called Xi Meichen."

Yi Luowa furrowed her brows and mouthed, "Are you suggesting that the car accident might not have been an accident, but rather premeditated?"

"Didn't you have suspicions at the time and ask Li Hua to look into it?"

"But I found nothing." Yi Luowa shook her head.

Tong Airui glanced at the doorway, saw Yuan Hang keeping watch outside, and lowered his voice, "Just because nothing has come to light for now doesn't mean nothing ever will. I've already sent people to keep an eye on them."

Yi Luowa cradled her head in one hand, shutting her eyes in anguish. She would rather the car accident had been an accident than have to accept that she might have such a malicious mother. But reality was so cruel—who ordered the removal of Second Uncle's oxygen mask? Who rushed in to seize Second Uncle's property immediately after news of his death broke?

Tong Airui displayed remarkable patience, giving her time to slowly collect herself.

Yi Luowa finally struggled through her pain and looked at Tong Airui, mouthing, "Why didn't you let Uncle Li tell me sooner? Why are you helping me?"

"Li Hua grew up by your Second Uncle's side. I've investigated him, and he's absolutely loyal. I didn't let him tell you because he's unrefined, and you hold a grudge against me—if he couldn't explain it properly, I worried it would cause an even bigger misunderstanding. I thought once the morning's farce was over, you'd come to me, and then I'd tell you myself. But you didn't come."

Yi Luowa mouthed bitterly, "I genuinely don't want to see you! Seeing you makes me sick!"

Tong Airui was silent for a full three seconds before saying in a low voice, "I just recalculated everything—I've repaid all my debts to you. If I help you any further, I'll be at a loss. So, I'm done meddling in your family's mess!"

Yi Luowa shot him a disdainful glance and mouthed, "What loss have you suffered?"

"I caused you to fall off the cliff, but I also rescued you. That settles things between us."

Yi Luowa slammed her hand against the bed frame. "Are you even a man? You think that counts as even?"

"Fine. Let's say I saved you for free then. When you got into the car accident, my people were the ones who rescued you. That episode should compensate for the cliff incident, right?"

Yi Luowa pursed her lips. Even now, he still wouldn't admit that he had asked Mi Chenxuan to save her. But, without his help back then, who knows what might have happened to her and Second Uncle. That could reasonably offset the cliff incident.

Tong Airui noticed she nodded and continued, "I saved your Second Uncle and helped you and him safeguard PCW. That alone more than atones for the mistakes I made seventeen years ago. If you want my help from now on, you'll need to pay a fee. If you're unwilling, you can investigate things yourself."

Yi Luowa froze at his words. His accounting was flawless! Investigate herself? Yi Luowa dropped her head in frustration. At the moment, she didn't have the ability.

Yi Luowa mouthed, "What do you want me to do to get you to help me? I can't make decisions about my Second Uncle's things, but I can make decisions about my own. Should I repay you with three ribs?"

Tong Airui glanced at her disdainfully. "Your ribs aren't even worth as much as pork chops. What use is that to me?"

"Then give me a straight answer!" Yi Luowa said impatiently, her brows furrowing.

"One rib for one year of your freedom."

After Tong Airui spoke, the two stared each other down with fiery eyes. Yi Luowa felt the man sitting across from her was simply inhuman. Three years of freedom! What was he thinking!

"I have to take care of my Second Uncle, go to school, and participate in many competitions. I can't agree to this! If you can't propose a different condition, then leave!" Yi Luowa said, puffing her cheeks as she looked out the window angrily.

Tong Airui smirked faintly. "Then become my maid and take care of me. Once my wounds heal, you can leave, and I'll handle the remaining matters for you."

What a scoundrel! Here he was as a patient, and he wanted her to serve him? What a beast! Footsteps echoed behind her, growing more distant. Mechanically, Yi Luowa turned her head back. Damn it! She hadn't responded yet, and he just walked off!

Tong Airui returned to the hospital room and cast a cold glance at his brother, who was pinned under Mi Chenxuan. He called sharply toward the doorway, "Yuan Hang! Get in here!"

Yuan Hang slunk in timidly.

"Push-ups. You stop when you collapse from exhaustion!"

Yuan Hang collapsed face-first to the ground and began doing push-ups one after another.

Mi Chenxuan turned his head to glance at Tong Airui's dark face and lightly patted their fifth brother's cheeks. "Fourth Brother's angry. You'd better behave, or else you'll be next doing push-ups!"

Tong Aino slapped Mi Chenxuan's hand away and shouted fiercely at Tong Airui, "I forced Yuan Hang to talk. Punish me. Why take it out on him?"

"You want punishment? Then get down here!" Tong Airui stood in the center of the room, glaring at him with malice.

Tong Aino gripped Mi Chenxuan's arms firmly, hoisting him aside before leaping off the bed and staring coldly at his brother. "Before I start, answer me one question: are you into that girl from the Yi family?"

"Tong Yuanhang!"

Tong Airui's commanding roar made Tong Yuanhang flinch and collapse onto the floor.

"You dodge my question and then punish Yuan Hang!" Tong Aino glared angrily at Tong Airui.

"Can't you two calm down for five seconds?" Ai Ni walked out of the accompanying room, her face wracked with exasperation. "I've never seen you two fight since childhood. What's your problem today? Trying to make up for 24 years of unspoken arguments?"

The two brothers simultaneously turned to her and yelled in unison, "Shut up! Go back to bed!"

Ai Ni sneered, "You two are yelling incessantly—how am I supposed to sleep? If you have something to discuss, sit and talk like grown-ups. Fighting over an outsider? You two are acting more immature as you age."

"Big Brother's lost his mind. For a wet-behind-the-ears yellow-haired girl from the Yi family, he insists on getting involved in their messy business!" Tong Aino exclaimed indignantly to his sister. "And those injuries he has—thanks to that damn girl!"

Ai Ni shot a suspicious glance at Tong Airui. "Brother, is what Fifth Brother said true?"

Tong Airui cautiously took a seat on the sofa and cast a cold glance at Yuan Hang, who was still prone on the floor. Yuan Hang hastily propped himself up and resumed push-ups.

"Aino, do you remember how I fell sick before Big Brother's coming-of-age ceremony?" Tong Airui spoke gravely.

Tong Aino looked at him, exhaling audibly. "I remember. I also recall during that time, you often had nightmares and woke up drenched in sweat."

"I never told you why I had nightmares. It's the one thing I've kept from you all these years." Tong Airui's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Two days before Big Brother's adult ceremony, he and I caused big trouble."